EVANS, SYdney Morris

"DOWLAIS HARPIST & HAIRDRESSER KILLED BY GERMAN ARTILLERY SHELLS”

Private Sydney Morris Evans, 42361, 17th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

Killed in Action on 6th July 1917

Buried at Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium

Sydney was born in May 1887 in Merthyr, and by the time of the 1891 census, he lived at 35 Farmers Arms, with his Aunty & Uncle. In 1904, Sydney was arrested and charged at Builth Court for ‘theft of various articles of jewellery from a property in Builth Wells’. His photo from the time he was arrested is attached, with a date of 13/10/04 & gave his occupation as a Harpist. During this time, he also travelled the country with his Harp, performing with the famous duo Ted & May Hopkins.

By the time of the 1911 census, Sydney was living at 22 Horse Street with his wife Eleanor, daughter Doris and son Stanley, where his occupation was then as a ‘Master Hairdresser’.

Upon enlisting in Glasgow, he was assigned to the Highland Light Infantry and landed at Boulogne on 23rd November 1915.

In July 1916, the 17th Battalion were at NIEWPORT (PETIT REDAN), where they were in fierce hand to hand combat with the Germans - including numerous trench raids on the 5th July, where they tried to take the German trenches.

The following day (in what I can assume was retaliation from the events of the previous day), they faced heavy German shelling on their location.

The following is taken from the war diary on the 6th July;

“Battalion in ‘C’ Left Sub Sector. The night passed without incident and the enemy remained quiet until 9am when they opened desultory fire on our trenches and reserve. Towards the afternoon, the fire increased and soon reached a high pitch.

The canal bank and HUITRIERE came in for special attention. Our heavies retaliated and hostile fire died down. At 9pm, two hostile aeroplanes crossed our line at a very high altitude.

Casualties for the day - 1 OR Killed (this was Sydney) and 15 OR wounded”

Husband of Eleanor Evans, 22 Horse Street, Dowlais.